Physics/Computing 200 -- Electronics Laboratory I

• Correctly use electrical terminology when discussing electrical circuits and their components
• Use digital meters to measure DC voltages, currents, resistances and continuity
• Use oscilloscopes to measure DC voltages and time intervals
• Set up DC supplies and function generators to produce voltages and waveforms as needed
• Understand the characteristics of series and parallel circuits
• Identify the behavior of diodes, (including LEDs), and capacitors in DC circuits
• Understand the uses of common circuit configurations such as voltage dividers and Wheatstone bridges, including the use of variable resistors
• View digital logic gates as DC circuits with voltage, current, and timing limits
• Recognize the use of different logic gate I/O types; specifically totem-pole, open collector (open drain), and tri-state
• Draw schematic diagrams of circuits
• Sketch waveforms of electrical signals and identify important information
• Maintain a professional lab notebook which records and summarizes all important lab results and insights.

The lecture will review equipment, data analysis techniques, and relevant background for upcoming labs.

Quizzes will be written during the lecture period.

Lab demonstrations (group of 2)

• work demonstrated at every lab
• every lab will indicate what is to be demonstrated
• all labs weighted equally
• see Lab Demonstrations for requirements
• Each lab will have points at which you have to show me that you have accomplished the required task(s). Usually they also require you to explain something you have learned in your own words to verify that you've understood the key points.

Lab summaries (individual)

• Your lab notebook should contain all work for every lab including prelab exercises, lab notes and results, postlab exercises, and summaries
• all labs weighted equally
• see Lab Notebook for requirements
• The notebook is the vehicle for you to record all of what you learn for future reference. You'll be able to use it for quizzes and lab tests, so it should be your most vital resource. The questions and summaries that you hand in ensure that what you have recorded for your own reference is useful and correct.

• These are simple conceptual quizzes that complement the lab quizzes.
• Two attempts are allowed on each quiz to allow you to correct your mistakes.

• five to six "5 minute" quizzes
• the quiz is normally open lab notebook
• calculators, computers and PDA's are not allowed.
• the quiz format will be short answer; typically one to four questions
• These will be given in the lecture, and clarify whether individual students have mastered critical concepts

Practical lab tests (individual)

The lab tests require you to perform lab tasks on your own, in a real-life test of your ability. Previous students have suggested that a high percentage of marks in the course should be for the lab tests, which suggests the students have found the tests valuable and reasonable. That's why I have assigned the highest single component of the course grade to the lab tests.

Practical Lab Test 1 (30 minutes) will test your skills in troubleshooting a circuit. Given a circuit diagram and a set of black boxes, you will determine which box(es) correctly implement the given circuit. For the box(es) that do not correctly implement the given circuit, you will determine which component(s) are incorrect and specify the fault (i.e. open, short, incorrect resistor value). Circuit has been wired correctly and faults are limited to component failures

Practical Lab Test 2 (30 minutes) will test your skills in identifying components, building a circuit from schematics and measuring specific characteristics using a meter.

Practical Lab Test 3 (30 minutes) will test your skills in determining the circuit diagram solely on the basis of measurements. Given a black box, you will draw a schematic of the circuit contained in the box and label the component values.

Practical Lab Test 4 (30 minutes) will test your skills in using the following equipment: digital volt meter, oscilloscope, power supply, function generator.

• maintain a professional lab notebook
• design and execute formal demonstrations of circuits

Students who are colour blind should identify themselves to the lab instructor at the start of the first lab period.

Students with disabilities who require classroom and/or laboratory accommodations should identify themselves to the course instructor and lab instructor as soon as possible. We assume all students requiring academic accommodations will have all accommodations approved by the Accessible Learning Centre.